ELLOREE -- Elloree's 2006 audit report resulted in a positive financial picture overall for the town.

Dwight Summers of Brodie, Summers and Wilkes, who presented the audit at Elloree Town Council's October meeting, said the town received an "unqualified opinion," which means no irregularities were found.

Elloree's total assets increased about $97,000 from the previous fiscal year, Summers said, adding that there was a slight increase in revenue for the year. However, the water department showed a slight decrease, he said.

Overall, the town showed a profit for the year, Summers reported.

Also during the meeting, Teresa Hodge of Civil Engineering Consulting Services presented the plans for Phase III of Elloree's streetscape project, which will cover Cleveland Street from Highway 6 to Lexington Street. She noted that Phase III will include low-voltage lighting, enhanced sidewalks and parking and new landscaping features.

In other business, resident Claudette Pauling expressed concern about the methods used for selection of board members for the Boys and Girls Club.

Mayor Van Stickles told her the board had not yet been selected, and Town Administrator John Singh described how the members will be picked. He said the initial process includes getting insight from town officials and interested people in the town. Once a list is gathered of interested individuals, the selection will be done by applications and interviews, Singh said. A board should be in place by January 2008, but until then, Orangeburg County directors will help oversee the program in Elloree, he said.

Linda Stickles, president of the Elloree Mentor Book Club, reported on the club's primary purpose to maintain and operate the Elloree Mentor Library, a branch of the Orangeburg County system. The Book Club recently renovated the library, installing new lighting, new carpet and other amenities.

Stickles provided data showing the Elloree Library branch has the highest circulation of all branches in Orangeburg County, including the Bookmobile. She encouraged residents to visit the library to see the new improvements and to join in the programs offered by the library.

In other business:

* Water Board General Manager Larry McDowell reported 53 work orders and 636 customers billed last month. In addition, he said 363 customers were billed on behalf of the town for household trash services. McDowell said estimated water loss for the month was 16 percent, down from 18 percent the previous month. Although there were no DHEC violations at the wastewater facilities, there was one at the water facility because the required amount of samples for the month were not pulled, McDowell said. There was also a concern with the iron content in the new well on Hampton Street, he said, adding that measures are being taken to correct the problem before the new well is brought on line.

* Police Chief J.P. Avinger reported 15 calls for service and three arrests last month. He said there were 71 traffic stops and 58 uniform tickets issued. He said on Sept. 7, the police department conducted "Operation Zero Tolerance." All officers participated by conducting simultaneous patrols throughout town on a continuous basis, focusing on high visibility, crime prevention and a zero-tolerance approach toward any violation of state law, the chief said.

* Singh said the recent telephone outages in the town were the result of a fiber optic cable being cut on Interstate 26. The outage lasted several hours and was resolved with help from Orangeburg County Emergency Services.

* Singh said arborists from SCE&G, Carolina Tree Service and the Forestry Commission with meet with town officials to further address tree issues. Representatives of the Forestry Commission will be at the November meeting to discuss trees and their maintenance, he said.

* Town Clerk Chasity Canaday noted that Elloree's Arts and Antiques Festival is scheduled for Oct. 26-27.

* Singh said trick-or-treat hours will be from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31. He invited residents to participate in the Trunk-or-Treat event planned that evening in Joe Miller Park, which is being sponsored by the town and Pythian Sisters Temple No. 4.

* The administrator said the November council meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 instead of Nov. 6 because of the Election Day schedule.

T&D Correspondent Danielle Sanders can be reached by e-mail at crazyd_308@hotmail.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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